SPXL Options Trading — Covered Calls, Puts & the Wheel
A complete guide to selling options on Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X. Expected premiums, strike selection, real example trades, and the four strategies that actually work for SPXL.
Why trade options on SPXL?
SPXL (Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull 3X) is one of the most heavily traded ETFs for options strategies. Tight spreads and good open interest across strikes make it ideal for premium sellers. Because SPXL is a basket rather than a single name, single-stock earnings risk is diffused, which is a meaningful edge for consistent income.
Typical monthly premium collected on SPXL runs around 3.5-6.0% of capital, which annualizes to roughly 42-72% if you sell new contracts every cycle. Capital required to run a single contract wheel on SPXL is $5,000-$20,000 — the share price and the 100-share lot size set the minimum, not the strategy.
Four strategies that work on SPXL
SPXL Covered Call
Sell upside calls against 100 shares you already own to collect premium every month while capping your upside.
Read the SPXL Covered Call guide →SPXL Cash-Secured Put
Sell a put backed by cash so you either get paid to wait or acquire the stock at a discount to today's price.
Read the SPXL Cash-Secured Put guide →SPXL Wheel
Alternate between cash-secured puts and covered calls on the same ticker to generate continuous premium income.
Read the SPXL Wheel guide →SPXL Poor Man's Covered Call
Replace the 100 shares with a long-dated deep-ITM LEAPS call and sell short-dated calls against it to reduce capital.
Read the SPXL Poor Man's Covered Call guide →SPXL options FAQ
What is the best strike price for a SPXL covered call?
On SPXL, target 12-18% out of the money at 0.10-0.20 delta. On a very high-volatility stock like this, closer-to-the-money strikes chase premium but spike assignment probability to uncomfortable levels.
How much premium can I collect selling calls on SPXL?
Typical monthly premium on SPXL is 3.5-6.0% of position value, annualizing to 42-72% when you roll every cycle. Earnings months can pay 2-3x the normal rate because of elevated IV.
What is the best delta for a SPXL cash-secured put?
A delta of 0.10-0.20 on SPXL balances premium income with assignment probability. Lower delta is warranted here because a single gap down can drop the stock 10%+
How much cash do I need to sell a put on SPXL?
Cash required is 100 × strike price. For SPXL, that's roughly $5,000-$20,000 per contract at a typical strike. Most brokers let you use margin, but for a true cash-secured put you set aside the full amount.
Is SPXL a good stock for the wheel strategy?
SPXL is solid for the wheel because of its reasonable spreads and elevated IV (high premium, higher assignment risk). No dividend means all your return comes from premiums and price appreciation.
Can you run a poor man's covered call on SPXL?
Yes. Buy a 0.80+ delta LEAPS on SPXL dated 12-18 months out as your synthetic long, then sell short-dated calls 12-18% above the stock at 0.10-0.20 delta. Capital tied up drops from $5,000-$20,000 to roughly 30-50% of that — a meaningful improvement when the share price is a mid-range share price.
What expiration should I use for SPXL options strategy trades?
Use 14-28 DTE so you can react to sharp IV crushes and moves as a default for SPXL. Shorter expirations let you react to IV resets and price gaps.
Is SPXL suitable for beginners selling options?
Mostly yes, though beginners should use small size and confirm liquidity on each expiration they trade. Always check the bid/ask spread before entering — anything wider than 5% of the mid price is a warning sign.
Run the numbers on SPXL yourself
Use the free OptionsPilot calculator to price covered calls and cash-secured puts on SPXL with live quotes.
Open the SPXL Strike Finder →